Mental Health Services as Part of a Medical Home

Accessing Mental Health Services

An effective primary care medical home results in better health outcomes. (For more
information on medical home, see the Medical Home: What is It? fact sheet.) An
essential part of the medical home model is treating the whole patient, including
addressing issues of mental and emotional health. Yet, studies show that common mental
health problems go unrecognized or are not adequately treated by primary care doctors.
Often, when an individual has a primary diagnosis involving an intellectual or
developmental disability, health care professionals attribute psychological and behavioral
concerns to the primary diagnosis rather than considering an additional mental health
diagnosis.

Indiana is working to improve access to and quality of mental health services for Indiana
youth and families through its Systems of Care model in hopes of improving the overall
wellness of Hoosiers.

Mental Health Services

Mental Health Clinics: To find a clinic offering mental health services, visit
For For
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https://www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/2578.htm and select your county. An ombudsman
information
information, can help you understand and use mental health services. To reach an
contact Family ombudsman, call 1-800-555-6424, or visit https://www.mhai.net/public-health-
Voices Indiana. ombudsman?id=126.
Schools are responsible for identifying students with mental/behavioral health
1-844-323-4636
challenges that interfere with learning. The parent/guardian may request
www.fvindiana.org Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS) in writing to see if the
student qualifies for Educationally Related Intensive Counseling Services (ERICS).
Student Assistance Services (SAS) Teams coordinate services. A student with a
suspected or confirmed diagnosis may require a special education evaluation for
an Individualized Education Plan or 504 plan.
Community-based clinics may offer free or low-cost options for mental health
services. Clinics may be offered by faith-based organizations, like Catholic
Charities, university programs that have graduate students providing treatment
under the supervision of clinical faculty, and others.
Medicaid (all plans): Under the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and
Treatment (EPSDT) benefit, Medicaid provides comprehensive and preventive
coverage, including mental health services, for persons under 21. You will need to
choose a doctor and health plan, and seek care from providers within your plan.
Private Insurance: Review benefits and limitations, which vary by plan. Note that
in the event that insurance denies coverage, you have the right to appeal. The
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 (MHPAEA) requires that
mental health benefits be no more restrictive than general medical benefits.
Affordable Care Act (includes Marketplace Plans) requires that mental health
be covered as an essential health benefit, including preventive services. Some
childrens benefits may be fully covered with no co-pay/co-insurance.
Self-pay on a sliding scale is available at many clinics if the person seeking
treatment does not have other coverage options like Medicaid or private insurance.
Childrens Mental Health Initiative (CMHI) is a program designed to allow
families to access mental health services so that children do not enter the child
Page 1 of 2
welfare or probation systems for the sole purpose of accessing services. CMHI
Revised 6/2016 relies on community collaboration to ensure care is provided by the appropriate
Page 1 of 2 agency or system. To qualify, children must meet a variety of criteria, and because
Revised 4/2017
this is a voluntary service, caregivers must be engaged. Contact the Indiana
 Department of Child Services by calling 317-232-0464 or visit
http://www.in.gov/dcs/3401.htm# for more information.
Childrens Mental Health Wraparound (CMHW) Services: This program provides
youth with serious emotional disturbances with intensive home and community-
based wraparound services. Care strategies include, but are not limited to,
behavioral health and support services, crisis planning and intervention, parent
coaching and education, and community resources and supports. Services
available include wraparound facilitation, habilitation, respite care, family support,
and training for the unpaid caregiver. Contact the Indiana Department of Child
Services by calling 317-232-0464, for more information.
Money Follows the PersonPsychiatric Residential Treatment Facility (MFP-
PRTF) Services Program: This program provides funding for managing home and
community-based supports for persons moving from qualified institutions to the
community to ensure a safe and satisfactory return to the community. Not every
youth in a facility or discharged from a facility will qualify. This is a voluntary
program, and a person must meet a variety of eligibility criteria to qualify. Please
contact the Indiana Division of Aging, 1-888-673-0002 or da.mfp@fssa.in.gov, for
more information.
Crisis Services: Each Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) operates a 24-
hour crisis hotline, and no one will be denied services for inability to pay. It is
important to note that state psychiatric hospitals (State Operated Facilities, or
SOFs) may only be accessed through CHMCs. These SOFs are inpatient units for
persons in need of intensive treatment following screening by a community health
center. These centers also provide case management services to facilitate transition
from the hospital back to the community. Admission cannot be denied due to a lack
of ability to pay. In addition, there are inpatient units for short-term acute care that
may be accessed.
Hotlines are available to assist individuals who are in crisis. If you are or a loved
For For
moremore
one is experiencing a mental health emergency, call 911, or go to the
information
information,
emergency room.
contact Family o CMHC Crisis Lines vary by county and may be found using this interactive
Voices Indiana. map: http://www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/2578.htm.
o Indiana Mental Health and Addiction Resource Line 1-800-662-HELP (1-
1-844-323-4636
800-662-4357).
www.fvindiana.org o Suicide www.suicide.org or 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).

If you have questions or concerns about mental health treatment and services, your rights,
policies, procedures, etc., call the Consumer Service Line 1-800-901-1133. For additional
information and resources, contact Mental Health America of Indiana (MHAI) 317-638-
3501 www.mhai.net, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) http://www.nami.org, or
Family Voices Indiana 1-844-323-4636.

Programs and systems change often. It is important to ensure that you are using the most current information.
Page 2 of 2 This Fact Sheet was updated April 2017. Please check http://fvindiana.org/fact_sheets for the most recent
Page 2 4/2017
Revised of 2 edition. Supported in part by funding from the Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) of the Health
Revised 6/2016 Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and Indiana's Children's Special Health Care Services.